Don’t look now but there’s a Gavlas once again setting for the University of Saskatchewan men’s volleyball team.

No, coach Brian Gavlas has not come out of retirement after spending three decades on the sidelines.

Instead, the head coach of the U of S Huskies has his son, CJ, directing traffic and running the offence out on the court.

As a raw rookie, CJ was expected to merely provide depth this season. His ascension to starting setter was totally unexpected but came after projected starter and holdover Troy Wiebe blew out an ankle.

“Based on the situation, yeah, it’s a shock,” admits CJ, a Team Saskatchewan and Junior Huskie product.

“I feel I was ready for it. I’ve prepared to start and play volleyball.”

There is obviously pedigree there.

Brian Gavlas was an all-Canadian setter twice and Canada West all-star three times at setter, leading the Huskies to three Canada West titles and a national championship.

He is a three-time Canada West volleyball coach of the year and Canadian Interuniversity coach of the year in 2001.

CJ has seen action in 14 Canada West matches this season, along with four exhibition matches against Stanford and Pepperdine in California over the Christmas break.

He has 372 assists, 53 digs, 32 blocks and six service aces in conference play.

Playing at such a high level, Canadian Interuniversity Sport volleyball, with his dad as his coach, is a unique and maybe awkward situation.

“It’s different, but it’s good,” says CJ, whose Huskies play host to the Mount Royal Cougars in conference play Friday and Saturday at the PAC. “We have a really good relationship. We keep the home stuff at home and the volleyball stuff at the court.

“I really enjoy the team and atmosphere. Nothing but good reviews here.”

Brian Gavlas — or BG as he’s called on campus — says CJ is there based on merit.

“Well, he joined this program because we, as a coaching staff, knew he was capable of playing at this level,” Brian says. “The situation presented itself that he’s been given an opportunity, and, generally speaking, he’s been doing pretty well with it.”

As for the father-son dynamics? Brian shrugs it off like an outside hitter wiping off a block.

“I like to think I don’t treat him any differently than any other guy on our team,” he says. “We talk about some things while we’re here in the gym and maybe a little bit on the way home if we’re together. At home, we really don’t discuss too much about volleyball.”

ENERGETIC SPARKPLUG

A little over six-feet tall, CJ is a couple of inches taller than his dad, so advantage CJ.

He’s a sparkplug for the Huskies, who are in the thick of things in the Canada West playoff race with an 8-8 record, which puts them tied for sixth. Seven teams make the playoffs.

“He’s pretty athletic and sets the ball pretty well,” Brian says of CJ. “He’s a little bit undersized but he hasn’t been a major blocking liability for us. In a lot of ways, he’s playing the game beyond his years but, every once in a while little things crop up that we have to try and improve on for the next time he steps on the court.”

CJ believes he can give his team a spark.

“Energy — that’s a big part of what I do,” offers CJ. “I always have to be enthusiastic, just be excited and always intense. My job is just to set the players on the court and give them the best opportunity to win.”

Surprisingly, Gavlas is second on the team with five stuff blocks.

“People think that, just because I’m small, they’re going to get one (kill) on me, but I just get up a little higher than they think I can and I’m a little bit lucky, probably,” he says with a laugh.

A vertical in the 40-42-inch range helps.

“Well, he’s deceptive,” Brian says of CJ. “He’s a good athlete who jumps very well. He probably has one of our highest verticals on our team, so I know that’s maybe deceptive for the opponents, but he’s a pretty good athlete and hopefully he can help our team develop and get a little bit better as the season progresses.”

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